El Nino poses risk to rain-fed rabi harvests, could curb wheat and mustard output

At a national conference focused on rabi season readiness, Agriculture Secretary Atish Chandra highlighted the threat posed by the El Nino phenomenon to rain-fed agricultural zones. He recalled that the recent kharif harvest was also difficult, with many states struggling to achieve adequate crop coverage and to keep crops alive. For the upcoming winter crops such as wheat and mustard, which are sown in October, Chandra warned that production could be significantly impacted.

He explained that the weather pattern may bring both overly wet soils in some regions and insufficient rainfall in others, leading to extended periods of stress for farmers. He called for tailored strategies to address these divergent conditions during the rabi cycle.